Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba

Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba relocates from the sleepy town of Jwalapur to the city of Agra while attempting to recapture its predecessor's dark, edgy charm. Written by Kanika Dhillon and directed by Jayprad Desai, the movie has all the ingredients to be a thrilling ride, and with the addition of a formidable new adversary and obsessed lovers, the stakes are significantly raised. A dogged cop, Montu (Jimmy Shergill) is hot on Rani and Rishu's heels, spelling doom for the duo because he is the slain ex-lover Neel's chacha, making the case personal for him.

Despite the initial promise, the execution is lacking, and the script tries to pack too much, resulting in illogical decisions and unconvincing outcomes. The film's focus shifts from the intriguing mystery of the first instalment to a more straightforward chase, diluting the suspenseful elements that made the original compelling. The cat-and-mouse game between Rani, Rishu, and the police becomes predictable, lacking the edge-of-the-seat tension that Vinil Mathew's outing delivered.

While there are moments of intrigue, the narrative often meanders, bogged down by unnecessary subplots (including murders) and convoluted twists. The screenplay's attempts at clever dialogue and literary allusions (the pulpy crime novel background, a highlight of the first film) often feel over the top this time around, detracting from the overall impact. At 132 minutes, the film moves at a decent pace, but the plot points leave many questions unanswered.

Vikrant Massey shines as Rishu, with a commendable character arc from the first film. Taapsee Pannu brings a captivating energy to her role, although her performance in the first instalment was more subtly nuanced. Sunny Kaushal is decent as the meek but intense Abhimanyu. The two actors' on-screen dynamic is compelling. Aditya Srivastav and Jimmy Shergill are underutilized, despite Shergill's impactful scenes. The cinematography is a redeeming factor, capturing the essence of Agra.

Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba is engaging, if not awe-inspiring, and has some entertaining moments. While it maintains a stylish aesthetic and a talented cast, the film ultimately lacks the originality and suspense required to truly captivate audiences. With some tighter writing and more focused storytelling, this could have been a memorable sequel.